Minnesota Vikings formally break ground on new stadium as work begins on $1 billion project

MINNEAPOLIS – The Minnesota Vikings have broken ground on their new stadium.

Team owners and officials were joined by hundreds of local politicians, business leaders and purple-clad fans Tuesday morning to commemorate the start of construction on the billion-dollar project. Star running back Adrian Peterson was there, too.

With golden shovels and hard hats designed like Vikings helmets, the group posed for photos watched fireworks overhead.

The yet-to-be-named stadium will be built on the same downtown site as the Metrodome, where the Vikings have played since 1982. The public is on the hook for roughly half the cost. The NFL and Vikings are handling the rest, with much of the team's share coming from naming rights and fees on season ticketholders.